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i 


I 


WHY 

THE PRESENT HIGH 
COSTS IN BOOKBINDING? 




WHY 

THE PRESENT HIGH 
COSTS IN BOOKBINDING? 


A few pertinent facts that will interest the 
Publisher , the Manufacturer and 
the Public 


1 

Tfl 

u 

l 


■» • R 



J 



TAPLEY COMPANY 

Book Manufacturers 


NEW YORK 


1920 










T/J 


Copyright 1920 
J. F. Tapley Company 


JON 10 1320 

©CU570296 


/V\ o 


FOREWORD 

The constant and seemingly never ending increases in 
wages and materials in the Bookbinding Industry in New York 
City during the past four years have been the basis for much 
discussion and not a little apprehension on the part of manu¬ 
facturer and publisher. 

In some quarters, at least, serious claims have been made 
that binders have not been consistent nor entirely fair in 
the increased prices they have imposed for work performed 
and materials supplied. 

There has been much talk of percentages of “overhead,” 
“justifiable profits” and “knowledge of costs.” Likewise the 
question of protecting a customer on a contract to the date 
of its completion, notwithstanding additional labor increases 
during the intermediate period has been a problem of vital 
interest to the trade. 

To our knowledge, no firm nor individual has thus far 
attempted any logical explanation, based on facts and figures 
of record, to show the exact situation as it existed prior to, 
during and subsequent to the period of the European War. 
It is for this reason, coupled with a firm belief that the trade, 
as a whole, have remained true to the principles of business 
ethics, that we have compiled this little booklet of facts, sup¬ 
ported by authentic records. 

It is our plan to show clearly the exact conditions, the 
causes which led to the wage increases and a careful com¬ 
parison between costs and binding prices which will prove in¬ 
teresting to the trade in general. 

J. F. TAPLEY COMPANY. 

New York, May, 1920. 

3 


GENERAL CONDITIONS 


The industry, as a whole, has been seriously handicapped, 
like other non-essential war industries. The high wages paid 
to secure help in war plants prior to and during the war 
period for the United States contributed in no slight measure 
toward creating a shortage of help in our industry, and as 
time went on, to assist the agitation for additional wages with 
which to combat the ever increasing living expenses. 

Heatless days and workless days during the winter months 
had their share in the ultimate result. 

Freight and express embargoes on materials; increased 
transportation rates; shortages in paper, boards, cotton 
goods, glues, etc., used in war products and in the execution 
of wartime plans all played an important part. 

ANALYZING THE CONDITIONS 

To fully understand and appreciate each separate unit of 
cost and its proportionate connection with the final result it 
seems expedient to divide the main elements in bookbinding 
into four parts: 

1— Wages. 

2— Cloth advances. 

3— Miscellaneous materials and supplies. 

4— Overhead and general expenses. 

A careful study of facts and figures in these four divis¬ 
ions will ultimately lead us to the obvious comparison 
of another,— 

5 — Actual binding prices. 

It is best to take up each division individually and 
finally to make such comparisons as we choose. 


4 


1. WAGES 

Throughout this discussion we shall use, when referring to 
wages paid experienced help, the standard trade rates in New 
York City for journeymen bookbinders in their various classi¬ 
fications; semi-experienced and inexperienced rates, when 
given, are the result of a careful analysis of trade conditions 
and wages paid among the edition shops. 

Permit us, at this point, to make the assertion that in 
January, 1917, had any one or a number of employing binders 
been requested to compare the wages paid in our industry 
for experienced male help with that paid in another industry 
where similar experience and skill was required, the result 
w r ould have been a general statement that wages in the book¬ 
binding industry were fair and just. 

We now assert that the same question asked today would 
result in a negative answer. That is to say, the subsequent 
changes in the wages paid skilled employees has resulted in 
a scale today which shows positively that the journeymen 
bookbinders, as a unit, on January 1st, 1917, were receiving 
less in comparison with other trades where equal skill and 
experience were required. 

It is a matter of trade record that from October 16th, 1911, 
to January 1st, 1917, a period of six years, no change in the 
general trade rates was made. During the same period, in 
other industries (take the cotton, woolen, mining and building 
trades) several increases were granted. 

In the fall of 1916 the demands of the industries then 
actively engaged in supplying Europe with the sinews of war, 
and the premiums offered for help by these same industries 
began to be felt in the trade. It resulted as you will see from 
the table on pages 6 and 7 in an increase of approximately 10 

5 


WAGES PAID SKILLED MALE OPERATIVES IN BOOKBINDING INDUSTRY 

OCT. 16 th, 1911 TO JAN. 1 st, 1920 


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January i, 1920 , increases included final adjustment on March 1 , IQ 20 . 



















































WAGES PAID SKILLED MALE OPERATIVES IN BOOKBINDING INDUSTRY 

OCT. 16th, 1911 TO JAN. 1st, 1920 {continued) 


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Average increase per operator 105% 






































per cent. This was followed on January 1st, 1918 (a yearly 
period having elapsed by agreement), by a further advance 
of from 10 to 15 per cent. 

Subsequent to this advance, on July 1st, 1918; December 
23rd, 1918; October 1st, 1919, and finally on January 1st, 
1920, additional increases were granted after mature deliber¬ 
ation and much discussion; each increase based on a trade 
agreement to exist for a given period. The period in each 
instance was provisional upon living conditions in part, and 
upon developments in the printing industry in general. 

It must not be forgotten that the binding industry has, up 
to within the last two years, been looked upon as an adjunct 
to the printing industry, a sort of “tail at the end of the dog,” 
whereas the “tail” is now beginning to assist in its own 
“wagging.” 

The foregoing table needs little or no explanation. It repre¬ 
sents the experienced position classifications as understood 
in the edition and pamphlet trades. It will be noticed that 
the increases since July 1st, 1918, are on the same unit basis 
as those in the printing industry. 

Owing to the mass of figures involved in the discussion of 
piecework prices, it is impractical to attempt such a dis¬ 
cussion here. In brief (supported by facts), the piece prices 
of the industry, which were more equitable on January 1st, 
1917, than the hour rates, have advanced simultaneously with 
the latter in due ratio until today piece operators in many 
shops average from $50.00 to $65.00 per week of 48 hours. 

It is proper, at this point of the discussion, to remind our 
readers that during this same period of 1911 to 1920 the 
old 54 hour week was discarded in favor of the present 48 
hour basis. This in itself has not reduced binding costs. 

While skilled operators' wages were advancing it likewise 
follows that the rates paid unskilled and semi-skilled em¬ 
ployees also advanced, as shown in the following table: 

8 


WAGES PAID SEMI AND UNSKILLED MALE HELP IN BOOKBINDING INDUSTRY 

1911 TO 1920 


1920 

Jan. 

1st 

$20425 

22-28 

21-28 

30-35 

35.00 

1919 

Oct. 

1st 

O lO CN O lO 

O CN CN CO CO 

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CN CNOOI^O 

CN CN 1 CN CO 

1918 

Dec. 

23rd 

$20.00 

21-23 

17-20 

25.00 

26.00 

1918 

July 

1st 

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1911 

to 

1917 

$12.00 

12-14 

10-12 

16.00 

15.00 

Year. 

Date Effective. 

Position 

Porters—Handling Cases, etc. 

Sheet Porters and Bundlers at Folding Mach., Gather¬ 
ing, Layout Men. 

Sweepers and Balers of Cuttings, etc. 

Bookpackers. 

Truckmen and Chauffeurs. 


9 


Greatest increase, 180% 
Smallest increase, 108% 
Average increase, 132% 






























WAGES PAID SKILLED WOMEN OPERATIVES IN BOOKBINDING INDUSTRY 

1917-1920 





*Scalefor operators in these positions now under negotiation. A fiat increase of $ 3.00 per week is requested . 
Greatest increase, 172.2% 

Smallest increase, 96.3% 

Average increase, 159% 












































WAGES PAID SEMI AND UNSKILLED FEMALE HELP IN BOOKBINDING INDUSTRY 

1917-1920 



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Having completed a study of the wage advances to male 
operatives let us examine the rates paid and advances allowed 
female operators. This is shown in the scale on page 10. 

An examination of the table on page 11 will show that 
unskilled female help has fared quite in proportion with the 
skilled positions. 

It would be improper to close our study of the wage division 
without considering the question of production. Given the 
same basis of production today as in 1911 we would find the 
unit costs per operation show less increase than actually 
exists. It is a fact, though disputed on the part of Labor 
itself, that production has not remained at the old basis. A 
census of shops paying the scales embodied in the tables shown 
in this booklet results in our making the statement that pro¬ 
duction today is unquestionably 25 per cent, less taken as an 
average. This has a serious bearing upon the final price of 
the binder and must not be overlooked. 

A summary of the labor increases since 1911 shows: 


Skilled male employees average.105. % 

Skilled female employees average.159. 

Unskilled female employees average.147.6 

Unskilled male employees average.132. 

An average total increase of.135.9%, 


not taking into account the reduction in hours and loss in 
production. Later reference will be made to these increases 
in our comparison with binding prices. 

12 








2. BOOK CLOTH ADVANCES 

Since leather ceased to be the chief item of materials cost 
in book making, cloth has become that factor. Any discussion 
of binding costs which omitted a careful consideration of this 
important item would be inadequate and incomplete. 

For the purpose of comparative cost values we have taken 
the Interlaken Mills and Holliston Mills schedules of prices 
for their standard grades. As the other mills, Bancroft and 
Siegbert, make corresponding grades with little or no varia¬ 
tion in prices, we have eliminated their lines except in the 
less expensive grades, which will be shown in a separate 
table. 

It will be seen from the tables on pages 14 and 15 that the 
two lines have advanced nearly simultaneously during the 
period of 1907 to 1920 and the greatest increases are on the 
cheaper grades. The latter is undoubtedly due to the heavy 
increases in basic costs of manufacture, which are reflected 
in a greater percentage on the lower priced goods. 

It should be remembered while considering the advances 
made on bookcloths, that during the war period, Govern¬ 
mental restrictions on cotton goods, dyestuffs (and the lack 
of suitable dyes from abroad) resulted in the elimination of 
many colors, a wise curtailing of “specials” and a general 
reduction in output. This reduction in output by Govern¬ 
mental restriction, coupled with further reductions by reason 
of shortage in coal, labor and shipping facilities made itself 
forcibly apparent from the fall of 1919 to the present date. 
Some manufacturers and publishers have contributed to the 
causes of present shortage and high prices by ordering their 
requirements for a year or more in advance, thus preventing 
the mills from running goods for stock and immediate de¬ 
mands. 


13 


RATES PER YARD CHARGED FOR INTERLAKEN BOOK CLOTHS FROM 1907 TO 1920 



1920 

Mar. 22 

o >o >r> io io 

^ <0 OO ^ 

1920 

Jan.17 

IONNN03 

CO ^ iO t-'- 

1919 

Oct. 27 

O O O O CO • 
3^31^3^ 

1919 
Jan. 24 

X 

O vO O O O' O 
CS3rfOCN3 


w 

> 
HH 

H 
U 

w 

(Z4 

-to 

;W 
erf w 

to <2 

>hQ 


<u 

X 


i e 

• 0.2 


3 
u 
torf 
o 
3 

CQ 
c 

g’cS 
j2 tso 
o « 
3 i—l 

CQ u, 
v. ° 

° e 

3 Vh 

> 3rf 
3 O 


O £ 

U o 

3 O 

oU 

3 cJ 

£ L 

_ „ . M - o x 

ox<<uw 


w 3 OJ 3 3 
Q 

ti ti t 




14 


Smallest percentage of increase, 175.0 
Largest percentage of increase, 233.3' 
Average percentage of increase, 204.4' 

















































RATES PER YARD CHARGED FOR HOLLISTON BOOK CLOTHS FROM 1907 TO 1920 


1918 
Oct. 30, 

w\ 

OOOOOOOOrOO 

• • 

1918 
Apr. 26, 

\$t 

h\ 

^00000*0^*0^1 

1918 
Apr. 15, 

lO CO 

O K M N M • O O CO VO 

CO co -cf "T "cf -Kto <0 CO 

1917 
Dec. 5. 

co O O 

• CM CM lO 00 

CS CM CO CO CO • lO CM CM CM 

1917 
June 9, 

CO 

NONNN • >0 On co O 
• CM CM CM CM • CO ■*—i CS CM 

1916 
Oct. 9, 

-ONOCO 
*—t CM CM CN CM • CO CS CM 

1916 

Alar. 24, 

iooOh 

CO 00 CM CM CM • K « 

tH *—i CM CM CS • CM ■•—1 I CM 

1907 
July 15, 

CM -t 1 t— 

C^N t-i ■r-i • «0 co vO On 

rH y—i CM CS CM • CM 1 ,—l *—< 

• • • 

Y EAR. 

Date Effective. 

Grade 

Rex. 

Aldine. 

Record. 

Craft. 

Crash. 

Caxton Buckram. 

Library Buckram. 

Black. 

Waverly. 

Extra. 


1920 

Mar. 17, 

O'OIOOOOIONNIO 

Tt lO C ^ ^ CO cjN Tf lO 

1920 

Jan. 22, 

ICNNNNNNNOOO 

cOTfi^oOONCONjt^ 

1920 

Jan. 17, 

IONKNNNNNOCO 
co M 1 >0 CO ‘O O t'- co M' 

1919 
Oct. 27, 

OOOOOOOOco*—* 
fO cf lo <0 lO O ^ co co 

1919 
July 22, 

X 

'OO'O'O'O'O'O'OOn'O 

CS CO rf Tt TjL io O CN CS CO 

1919 
June 4, 

K\ 

v0 v 00'0'0 v 0'0'00'\'0 

CN tO^^^LOOCNCN CO 

1919 
Jan.24, 

x 

O O O O O LO O O o 

CS CO'T rji LO LO CN CS CO 

• » 

Year. 

Date Effective. 

Grade 

Rex. 

Aldine. 

Record. 

Craft. 

Crash. 

Caxton Buckram. 

Library Buckram. 

Black. 

Waverly. 

Extra. 


o o O 
i o6o6 

<N CM 
* *■ •> 

<U <U 
“ w in 
to ct3 ccS 
<U 4) 5 
U U lL 
U O o 

c c S 


O O O 

£> <u o 
bJO bfl 
f3 cc3 ctf 


15 
































































In the last three years several cloths have appeared at 
prices lower than the standard Vellum de Luxe and Rex 
grades. These cloths, due to the heavy advances on the above 
mentioned grades, have rapidly become an important factor 
in the industry. We list them individually. 

LYNTEX LIBERTEX 


Manufactured by Western Shade Cloth Company 


1917, 

March . ... 

...$0.10% 1918, 

June. 

.. $0.24 


August . ... 

... ,iiy 2 

October . ... 

.. .25 


October . .. 

... .12% 

December .. 

.. .25 

1918, 

Februarv . . 

... .14 1919, 

February ... 

.. .21 


March . ... 

... .15% 

July . 

.. .23% 


June. 

... .18 

October .... 

. . .24 


June . 

... .20 

December ... 

. . .29 


August . ... 

... .22 1920, 

January . ... 

.. .32 

1919, 

February . . 

... .16 

Februarv ... 

%/ 

.. .34 


July . 

... .18 

March . 

.. .38 


September . 

... .20 




October . .. 

... .22 




November . 

... .24 



1920, 

January . . 

... .25 




Februarv . . 
%/ 

... .26 




Februarv 7 . . 

... .28 




March .... 

.. . .30 





STERLING LINEN 



Manufactured by the Holliston Mills 


1919, 

January . .. 

...$0.16 1920, 

January .... 

. . $0.28 


June . 

. .. .18 

March . 

.. .30 


July . 

... .22 




October ... 

. .. .24 





TUXEDO 




Manufactured by Louis Siegbert & Bro. 




BROUGHT OUT IN 1918 



1918 


...18-20c 



1919 


....16-24c 



1920 


...18-30c 



16 



































3. MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS 


Having completed a survey of the chief supply unit in 
bookmaking, let us examine a table of the costs of miscella¬ 
neous materials (page 18). 

It is unnecessary to discuss a comparison of each item 
individually—the figures tell the story. On binders’ Board 
alone the increase is 150%; thread, 270%, super 164%. 
Packing cases, an important element in school book work 
shipped direct, shows an increase of 100%. Consider for a 
moment what this last mentioned increase means when ap¬ 
plied to individual book cost based on 400 books per case. 

Before this booklet is printed we predict even higher prices 
on paper, boards and wrapping stock. 

The increases on cotton products, thread and super show 
similar advances as the cheaper grades of bookcloth. 

We have not attempted to show in detail the advances on 
genuine and imitation (fabric base) leathers. Genuine mo¬ 
roccos (goat skins) have become prohibitive. In 1907 a 
No. 1 grade black goat could be bought in quantity for 18 
to 20 cents per foot. Today prices are 55 to 62 cents per 
foot, and few skins offered. Sheepskins have gone from 16 
cents to as high as 43 cents for prime skins. Buffings, for¬ 
merly used in great quantities for book work, are scarce and 
high. Imitation (fabric base) leathers have advanced on 
some grades over 200%. 


17 


TABLE OF COSTS—MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS 
BOOKBINDING INDUSTRY 1914-1920 



18 


































4. SALARIES, GENERAL EXPENSES, OVERHEAD 

It naturally follows that with continued increases to op¬ 
eratives, the salaries of office workers, foremen and general 
workers have advanced in the same average proportion. 

Rentals in and about New York City are almost unbe¬ 
lievable. Our own rental has been advanced 125%. 

The upkeep of the plant and purchase of new equipment 
whereby a plant may be kept modern, efficient, and to care 
for normal growth has involved increases in expenditure of 
from 25 to over 300%. 

The subject of application of overhead to productive labor 
in the form of a percentage has enjoyed wide discussion. 
It is conceded by binders, cost experts and manufacturers in 
general that the logical w T ay of arriving at a selling price 
is to determine the exact labor cost per unit, add thereto a 
fixed percentage of overhead (all expenses in ratio to pro¬ 
ductive labor costs determined periodically) then include all 
materials or stock supplied and to the total thus obtained add 
the percentage of profit which the individual manufacturer 
has determined is a fair and equitable charge for equipment 
provided, investment involved and service rendered, the result 
being the selling price. 

Cost accountants have determined through a survey of 
numerous plants in our industry that under present conditions 
the average plant overhead varies from not less than 70% to 
not more than 90% on productive labor—edition plants alone 
included. 

The general basis of profit is 15%—much less than 
innumerable manufacturers establish for their own product. 
It must be remembered that 15% added to a cost figure by 
which to determine a selling price does not mean the binder 
will receive a net 15% profit. Take a book which costs 20c 
before adding 15% profit, which would make it 23c—15% 
of 23c would be .0345 and not the net 3c as figured. 

Having reached the point where we know definitely how 
labor, material and general expense costs have advancd let 
us compare these increases with actual binding figures. 

19 


5. BINDING PRICES 


For the purpose of comparison we will take a book of 320 
pages, folded on the quadruple machine, sewed in 16’s with 
4 single fold inserts (inserted not pasted), white linings, 
smooth cut edges, 5 x 7%, no headbands, crash and paper, 
cover of Vellum de Luxe plain cloth made over a No. 30— 
26x32 binders’ boards, with one impression of ink, glassine 
jackets, city delivery, 10,000 copies. 


Here are the comparative figures: 


Year 

Cloth Price 

Binding Price 

1914.. 

.12c. 

.069 

1915.. 

.13c. 

.075 

1916.. 

.14c. 

.09 

1917.. 

.20c. 

.11 

1918.. 

.26c. 

.13 

1919.. 

.31c. 

.153 

1920.. 

.35c. 

.187 

1920.. 

.40c. 

.192 

Gross average increase 178.2%. 


During this 

same period (1914-1920) cloth advanced (aver- 

aged) 218.6% 

and labor (averaged) 

135.9%, not to mention 


miscellaneous materials. 

It is impractical to attempt a comparison of each individual 
item of labor and material expense which go to make up the 
total binding cost. The same overhead percentage was used 
and the same ratio of profit figured in 1920 as in 1914. 

The conclusion is obvious. This book, taken for an example, 
is the cheaper type of 12mo novel, a more pretentious volume 
would show a still greater increase in proportion to its char¬ 
acter, class of materials used and workmanship involved. 

20 


















CONCLUSION 

A careful study of the facts and figures set forth in this 
little booklet will, we believe, convince even the most skep¬ 
tical that the advances in bookbinding prices have been con¬ 
sistent, fully warranted in the face of existing conditions and 
in no way excessive. 

There remains but one course in bookmaking if minimum 
costs are to be effected; machine production, throughout, quan¬ 
tity manufacture and the cheapest of materials. Even now 
many publishers are using embossed papers instead of cloth 
and the use of imitation gold and ink is replacing the more 
expensive genuine gold. 

Greater cooperation between binder and publisher is essen¬ 
tial in the planning for bookmaking. 

Serious thought should be given the elimination of slow 
moving titles from storage at the binders’ hands. 

Quantity production, quantity delivery and quantity sale— 
but the right quantity —that should be the slogan. 

Binders must become more efficient in production if they 
are to do their share. We are convinced that this cannot be 
done in cramped quarters in the congested high priced rental 
district of Manhattan. 

We have decided to move. 

In November of this year we shall be housed in the new 
Metropolitan Building in Long Island City. There we shall 
be able to operate our entire plant now occupying 77,000 
feet and employing 300 people on one floor of 73,000 feet, with 
30,000 feet additional space on a separate floor for expansion 
and storage. We believe this will enable us to operate with an 
increased efficiency giving lower production cost. 

This is our first step in preparing for that reconstruction 
period in industry which must soon overtake all of us. 


21 


Additional copies of this booklet may be had by writing the 
publishers. 


3477-173 

Lot 53 

















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